Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) find widespread applications as an electrolyte and/or electrode binder in fuel cells, electrodialysis stacks, flow and metal-air batteries, and electrolyzers. AEMs exhibit poor stability in alkaline media; their degradation is induced by the hydroxide ion, a potent nucleophile. We have used 2D NMR techniques to investigate polymer backbone stability (as opposed t...

This overview on one of the subjects treated in our group deals with the synthesis and study of low-dimensional polymer and molecular solid state structures formed with alkaline earth metal ions in non-aqueous solvents. We have chosen several synthetic approaches in order to obtain such compounds. The first concept deals with the "cutting out" of structural fragments from a solid state structur...

Using first-principles density functional calculations, we show that ferroelectricity can be induced in simple alkaline-earth-metal binary oxides such as barium oxide (BaO) using appropriate epitaxial strains. Going beyond the fundamental discovery, we highlight that the functional properties (polarization, dielectric constant, and piezoelectric response) of such strained binary oxides are comp...

Abstract Glycerol can be converted to propylene glycol via metal and base catalyzed hydrogenolysis. The nature of the has a profound influence on outcome reaction. We have tested range alkaline (LiOH, NaOH CsOH) earth (Mg(OH) 2 , Ca(OH) Sr(OH) Ba(OH) ) hydroxides in combination with Pt/C. data reveal that exhibit much higher activity improved selectivity. DFT calculations confirm coordination r...

The reactivity of Mn2O3 and late rare-earth sesquioxides in alkaline aqueous solution affords a highyield formation of rare-earth manganites, LnMnO3 (Ln 1⁄4 Ho–Lu and Y). The yield of the products depends significantly on the pH, which determines the solubility of the manganese cation, and reaction temperature, which regulates the decomposition of the insoluble rare-earth trihydroxide, Ln(OH)3,...

The high-performance separation of alkaline earth and transition metal ions on a bare porous silica 10.0 cm× 0.46 cm monolith (Merck Chromolith Si) was achieved using solvent enhanced ion chromatography. Using acetonitrile or methanol based ammonium and sodium acetate buffered mobile phases, the effect upon cation retention of mobile phase ionic strength, organic content and pH were evaluated. ...